Russia continues to pursue a policy of granting privileged status to participants in the so-called “special military operation” and their family members. One element of this policy is expanding access to higher education through special quotas, preferential admission, and other educational benefits.
This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.
This year, more than 4,300 participants in the war against Ukraine and their children were admitted to Russian institutions of higher education, which is one and a half times more than last year. Nearly 40% of them were admitted without entrance exams, and approximately two-thirds would not have been able to pass the competitive admissions process under general rules without preferential status.
This policy demonstrates the priority Moscow places on the militarization of society. Through this system of privileges, the Kremlin encourages its citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine, creating additional advantages for those associated with military service.
In contrast, the authorities restrict access to higher education for ordinary Russians as much as possible. It was recently reported that the cost of contract-based education at leading Russian universities has risen significantly, making higher education inaccessible to most Russians. The Center also reported that the Russian authorities systematically use educational institutions as platforms for recruiting people to fight in the war against Ukraine.